If you’ve been out of school for a while, then you know that it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. It takes some adjustment to learn how to handle monthly bills and expenses. But some Washington County middle school students recently got a preview of what to expect once they enter the workforce by participating in a “reality store” at North Washington Elementary School on Friday.

A Davidson County, Tenn., jury Thursday declared Washington County native Vanessa Coleman not guilty in one death, but guilty of being a facilitator in another that resulted from a series of crimes involving a Knox County, Tenn., couple.

Coleman, a 2006 Washington County High School graduate, was arrested Jan. 31, 2007, and faced numerous charges in relation to the deaths of Channon Christian, 21, and Chris Newsom, 23, in Knoxville.

Washington Countians like their politics, and apparently, they liked them just they way they were before Tuesday’s primary election. When the votes were totaled, no changes took place in the local political ranks.

In what was no doubt the most discussed race in the county for the primary election, Washington County Sheriff Tommy Bartley held off challengers Alan Corbett and Brad Langford by a total of 1,404 votes to Corbett’s 900 and Langford’s 466.

When St. Catharine College moved from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2004, President William D. Huston said the school would soon be recognized as a destination college, rather than a transitional one. That designation became very evident Saturday at the 78th commencement ceremony held in Lourdes Hall.

For the first time in St. Catharine history the number of bachelor’s degrees granted were more than the associate degrees awarded. A total of 54 graduates received bachelor’s degrees, while 50 were granted associate degrees.

Two Washington County properties are among nine in the state that are on the road to being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Kalarama Farm and Maple Grove, also known as the Old Settles Place or Hardin House, had their applications approved during a meeting of the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board last week.

At Tuesday’s Springfield City Council meeting, several council members brought up nuisance problems concerning barking animals and junk vehicles, and they discussed the problems with police chief Fred Armstrong.

It’s located across the county line, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a benefit to Washington County.

The Marion County Area Technology Center (MCATC) serves students from Washington County, as well as Marion County, and provides training to get the young people of both counties ready for their careers.

Principal Laura Arnold, a Washington County resident, said the center is on the property of the Marion County School District, but is operated by state agencies.

KNOXVILLE - Jurors acquitted Springfield native and 2006 Washington County High School graduate Vanessa Coleman of first-degree murder Thursday in the January 2007 torture-slayings of a West Knox County, Tenn., couple who were carjacked while on a date.

They convicted Coleman of facilitation of felony murder and other lesser charges in the death of University of Tennessee student Channon Christian, 21, but acquitted Coleman of charges in the death of Christian's boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, 23, a trim carpenter.

Jim Crouch is a wanted man. The Republican candidate for Washington County Sheriff has three Democrats fighting for a chance to go one-on-one with him in the Nov. 2 general election. But before he knows who will be his opponent this fall, the three Democrats must see who wins the battle of the ballot in the May 18 primary.